A massive winter storm is slamming much of the United States this weekend, forcing airlines to scrap thousands of flights and leaving travelers scrambling
to change plans. Flight tracking data shows the scale of the chaos. More than 3,600 U.S. flights scheduled for Saturday were called off, with another 1,900 or so delayed. Things look set to worsen on Sunday, when over 7,600 cancellations have already been logged. That pushes the total for the weekend well past 11,000 grounded flights. Major hubs are feeling the pain most. Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport has wiped out the majority of its departures. Nashville International has axed more than half its schedule. Even the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, is bracing for slower operations.
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Gus Hudson, who oversees operations there as senior deputy general manager, explained that crews are out treating runways and taxiways ahead of time. "Things may be slower, but we think we will still be able to maintain our operations," he said, as per a report from CBS News. "They will just be at a slower pace," he added. Airlines are doing what they can to ease the headache for passengers. Many have rolled out special waivers, letting people rebook trips without paying extra fees. Dangerous Weather Blankets Huge Areas The storm is no ordinary system. Forecasters say it will dump heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies all the way to New England. Frigid wind chills and ice buildup are expected to linger into Monday, with dangerously low temperatures following the precipitation. More than 200 million people live in areas under some kind of winter weather alert. Travel by road is especially risky right now. Emergency Measures Kick In Across States Officials aren't taking chances. At least 17 states plus Washington, D.C., have declared states of emergency. Those declarations unlock extra resources, speed up aid, and help coordinate response efforts. Nine states have gone further by calling up their National Guard units to assist where needed. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem put out a clear message: stay home if you can. She urged people to avoid roads over the next couple of days. Some federal buildings have already said they will close on Monday to keep workers safe.
President Donald Trump, wrote on a Twitter post yesterday that "I have been briefed on the Record Cold Wave and Historic Winter Storm that will be hitting much of the United States this weekend. The Trump Administration is coordinating with State and Local Officials. FEMA is fully prepared to respond. Stay Safe and Stay Warm!"
The storm's impacts could drag on for several days after the heaviest weather passes. Travelers with plans this weekend are being told to check airline updates frequently and prepare for possible extended delays or changes.
